2014-03-31 The Grandmaster's Entrance
2014-03-31
Players: Doctor Strange, Dominique, Hulk, Linda, Loki, Nova, Phantasm, Scarlet Witch, Thor
GMed by Thor
Title: The Grandmaster's Entrance

3/30/2014

The neighborhood is primarily residential, with a mix of tenements, apartment blocks, city housing projects, townhouses and renovated rowhouses, and its many retail businesses reflect the ethnic and social diversity of the population. The western part of Chelsea has become a center of the New York art world, with many art galleries located in both new buildings and rehabilitated warehouses.

Greenwich Village, often referred to in New York as simply "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families. Greenwich Village, however, was known in the late 19th to mid 20th centuries as an artists' haven, the bohemian capital, and the East Coast birthplace of the Beat movement. What provided the initial attractive character of the community eventually contributed to its gentrification and commercialization.

Loki arrives in Greenwich Village, dressed in his more casual cloth armor. Tucked under one arm is a round stuffed Ram and a couple of books, gifts from the Avengers. He strides along the sidewalk, his blonde hair bouncing along behind him as his emerald eyes look for someone, his other senses searching. He sensed that Mike was in this area, but as Greenwich is rather large, it took a bit of cheating (scrying) to track his location down.

What a pleasant evening for a stroll! With the weather cooperating and with most folks behaving in preparation of the start of their work week, Mike has found himself using the free time making his way over to Greenwich Village. Heck, maybe THIS time he'll actually find that damned sorceror who couldn't even be bothered to leave a phone number both times that guy's popped in on him.

If the trip to Midgard was beneficial in any way, it's that Thor is now better equipped to blend in with the human masses. A tall, brawny, nordic fellow shoulders a path through the crowd, a stern glare locked onto the back of Loki's head. At his legs a pair of beaten jeans, across his chest a worn Merle Haggard shirt from his prior expedition.

Sitting near the somewhat unusually framed window on the uppermost floor of his Greenwich abode is Doctor Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme. He sits with his mind out of his body out staying in touch with the waves of the planet and what they are telling him are things are going to be getting wild tonight. This feeling urges Steve back to his corporeal form where he quickly stands up and moves down stairs towards the front door and heads out into the street, not sure what or who he'll encounter.

Wanda glances over at Stephen as he slips out the front door, and decides that her studies can wait. Gesturing, she conjures out her street clothes in favor of her actual superheroing… or villainning, depending on your point of view, outfit. However, she has a bit of an illusion working as well, so that it looks like she's wearing her standard 'Carmen Sandiego' outift. With that, she moves up behind Stephen, backing him up if necessary but not getting in his way.

Who the man encounters is Linda, in her usual nurse's attire with a dark nurse's cape around her. She's not wearing the little hat that people seem to like to ask about, but most could probably presume what her profession is. "Oh! Doctor Strange." She calls to the man, practically on his doorstep. "I brought those files you were asking about. I can't stay long. You know where to find me." The woman gives a thin but genuine smile, reaching into the cape to pull out a disc in a protective case to present to the older man. "You look well. How's the Wong?"

Richard is doing his blue-speck-in-the-sky thing. This is how he has spent his days in the few months since arriving… Like a beat cop in the sky - without the Xandarian to bother him about it. Someday he might write someone a ticket. As he moves, he watches the ground, vision magnified, until he sees some more people. He slows down, and stays in the air now, watching to see if anything develops.

Loki spots Mike and takes a few swift steps forward, then halts, lowering his head for a moment. He then looks over his shoulder, sensing a familiar glare boring into the back of his head. Turning around, he grins brightly. "Brother! How good it is to see you! What are you doing here in New York? Have you come to take in a show on the broad way?" He has no desire to tell him why he's here on Midgard, but he has no apparent ill intent.

With Loki not making his presence known to him and Strange coming out of his home, it is but a matter of time before Mike spots the Visitorwholeavesnocontactinfo Supreme. Giving a sigh, the knit capped musician adjusts his walk to move towards the folks gathered. But upon seeing the nurse, he adjusts his strides to allow her time to talk about whatever it is they need talking about.

That stern glare fades into a rough smile as Thor throws an arm around Loki and pulls him low and close, making a show of screwing with the smaller man's hair. "My brother the champion? Visiting the realm to protect it, are you?" He inquires, releasing his grip and glancing at those closing on the location with a wary eye.

"Thank you." Stephen says gratefully to Linda after looking over his shoulder at Wanda to make sure she's behind him like he thought. Taking the disk from Linda, Strange tilts his head slightly, "My Wong, He's fantastic, enjoying having to work overtime for my newest students, one here, Wanda." Stephen says stepping aside to let the two women meet. "Wanda, this is Linda, the Night Nurse." He says with a quick gesture before spotting Mike out of the corner of his eye. "Mike?" The wizard asks. "What're you doing here?"

Wanda extends a hand towards Linda, "A pleasure to meet you." She looks about ready to say something more, then glances over between Strange and Mike, her brow arching ever so slightly.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. I guess I've just got tunnel vision." Linda's smile widens to a more generous one, and she reaches out a hand to take Wanda's for a moment. "My pleasure. I didn't know he was taking on students. Is your interest medical, or…?" Trailing off, to be polite; she doesn't know, after all, how much he's told her. Though generally she assumes anyone who's been inside his house has got to have some strong suspicions.

Richard blinks, and watches now, trying to read the power levels… That's… a lot of power in one spot. Hmm… Let's hope they play nice. He doesn't come down yet, though. Thor is playing nice with Loki, and the others…. Not sure who they are… Ooh… Wait… He watches Stephen now, waiting for an opportunity to try to talk to him. He looks for a celphone signal from him.. Maybe that way…

Loki flinches when Thor reaches for him, but then relaxes, even going as far as to laugh when Thor pulls him close. "I told you I wasn't as bad as you thought I was!" He says when he's finally let up. "Just think of what we could accomplish if we would ever work together as a team. What do you think? Could you put up with me long enough to give it a try?" His eyes turn to the others and he holds up a hand, patting Thor's shoulder. "Worry not, brother, they are not going to bring harm to anyone. I believe they are visiting the Sorcerer Supreme. As for the other female, I do not know her, and if my senses are correct, I believe Richard is above us. Should he decide to attempt to apprehend me again, I shall handle him. I came to check on Mike." He holds out the round plush ram and offers it to Thor. "A Midgardian gift."

When Mike's name is called by Strange, Mike's strides are no longer slowed as the point of the adjusted steps is no longer there. "Oh, considering you've visted me twice, I figured I'd return the favor." Mike replies, glancing to the nurse and then to Wanda. The glance lingers upon Wanda a bit longer before switching back over towards the Doctor. "Although, it looks like I caught you at a bad time."

"Busy day?" Thor muses with a chuckle, slapping Loki on the back then pointing at Wanda. "I have words to share with her, brother. Join me!" He calls, snorting as he stomps forward. "You are a a deaf fool. I had expected to work with you the entire time. I gave you responsibility as well."

Wanda looks at Linda, and grins wryly, "It would be the 'or' for that, really." She then glances over at Mike, blinking as she recognizes him, "Oh, you're… Mike, yes?" She smiles, "That was definitely an… interesting encounter." Then she looks over at the approaching Thor and Loki, and she murmurs, "Much like this one will probably be…"

"The second option Linda." Stephen fills in Linda's question with a grin then motions over to Mike with a hand saying, "And here's another, hopefully." The warlocks hand falls back to his side as the other slips into a pocket of his suit to put the disk away. Stealing a glance skywards and then over towards the two Asgardians, then whispering to himself the good doctor notes, "Seems like several pieces have fallen into this one place, could be something is about to happen."

"That's my cue to get back to the clinic, then." Linda moves away from the assembling group, back the way she came. She won't be that far away, at least. "In case anything happens, you know where to find me. It was nice to meet you, Wanda!" With a wave, the Night Nurse makes her way down the sidewalk, back towards Chelsea. Her dark cape flutters as a breeze catches it. Yes, there might be something about to happen. So she'd better prepare for it.

Loki stumbles when Thor slaps him on the back, emitting an 'oof'. "Ah, the witch. Perhaps she can tell us about the talismans. And I am not a deaf fool, I kept saying we should work together all the time and you ignored me! Either way, that was in the past."

Mike nods as Wanda remembers his name, cracking a slight smile as she reminds him of the Mardi-Gras incident. "Yeah, that was a weird way to kick off Lent." He glances over to where Wanda is glancing and his smile deepens as he lifts a hand up to wave to the two Asgardians. "So, is that second option what you were talking about back at the apartment?"

The inside of a nearby bistro erupts into a commotion as the upscale clientele scramble to escape. It seems the power to the area began to fluctuate and surge until each of the lights systematically popped in a shower of sparks. The final flicker sputters until each of the machines crumple and tear in two. The fabric of reality sputters and bends from within the shop, twisting light until it looks as if the area ripples like waves in a pond.

With a quick jerk of his head, Stephen looks towards the sudden catastrophe. Just as suddenly as he looks towards the issue the wizard is lifted towards the sky by his cloak and zooms off towards the danger, landing outside the shop, his hands up in two mystical gestures waiting to block or attack at the disturbance.

Dinner had been satisfactory to this point, and more than sufficient. Though a slightly higher price, the food was reminiscent of dishes enjoyed in the youth of the Quebecois redhead who now scrambles with the rest of the patrons to escape the surging fabric of reality. Though calm remaining mostly calm, the rest of the patronage is not, and thus it is that Dominique finds herself knocked down to hands and knees, forced to scramble to the side and underneath a table while the crowd rushes past.

Wanda grins, "Um, apartment…" She blinks at the fluctuations, and smiles wryly at Mike, "Buy me a coffee later and we can talk then?" She shakes her head, then flies off after Doctor Strange, her clothing shimmering to reveal her more typical Scarlet Witchy attire.

Mike glances over to Wanda as she mentions him buying coffee. Did she?- With the influx of people coming into the street from the bistro, Mike's attention is drawn over towards the movement in time to see the sparks raining down. "The h-" The voice dies away as Strange and Wanda fly off towards it. Shaking his head, he starts running towards the disturbance. To do what, well. He'll figure that out later.

The public slowly, but steadily, create a wall of bystanders as people form a lurching, inquisitive crowd. What is initially visible is nothing but an unusual distortion and some intrepid rays of sunlight dimly illuminate the restaurant. Sirens roar through the streets in the distance; the police should be here within the next ten minutes; until then, the responsibility of moving the public away from the threat will fall onto the shoulders of another. When movement finally reveals itself through the darkness it is through a strange sight. A single point pokes through the epicenter of the warping: a finger. The yellow of a gloved hand pushes through and seems to grab hold of existence, calmly folding it aside to reveal a field of nebulous stars beyond and make way for a tall figure to awkwardly step into the room. The figure is tall and rail thin with the gaunt face of an older gentleman grown weary with life. His skin is a pale blue hue, his hair a ragged shock of white with a pronounced widow's peak. Those eyes glow an uncanny crimson and betray a not entirely wholesome quality behind them while the visitor's body is wrapped in a golden robe that shrouds all but his upper arms.

He steps out of the shop and into the light of day, squinting uncomfortably into the sun then regarding the mob with a tired scowl.

The public slowly, but steadily, create a wall of bystanders as people form a lurching, inquisitive crowd. What is initially visible is nothing but an unusual distortion and some intrepid rays of sunlight dimly illuminate the restaurant. Sirens roar through the streets in the distance; the police should be here within the next ten minutes; until then, the responsibility of moving the public away from the threat will fall onto the shoulders of another.

When movement finally reveals itself through the darkness it is through a strange sight. A single point pokes through the epicenter of the warping: a finger. The yellow of a gloved hand pushes through and seems to grab hold of existence, calmly folding it aside to reveal a field of nebulous stars beyond and make way for a tall figure to awkwardly step into the room.

The figure is tall and rail thin with the gaunt face of an older gentleman grown weary with life. His skin is a pale blue hue, his hair a ragged shock of white with a pronounced widow's peak. Those eyes glow an uncanny crimson and betray a not entirely wholesome quality behind them while the visitor's body is wrapped in a golden robe that shrouds all but his upper arms.

He steps out of the shop and into the light of day, squinting uncomfortably into the sun then regarding the mob with a tired scowl.

A lovely day, and Bruce is out walking. Or, maybe he's being sneaky and stealthy and spying on someone. That's when he notices that a crowd is gathering. That's interesting. He goes to check out what's happening

Loki blinks as people begin running.

Standing up right and even going slightly further than that, Strange looks to the figure. "Who are you!?" The wizard calls out towards the blue being. The wizard stands at the ready not sure what to do with this situation just yet.

Wanda hovers just behind and to the side of Strange, fingers out in a 'hexing' gesture though she doesn't incant anything yet. She tilts her head, looking curiously at the stranger.

Dominique remains underneath the table, finding the thought of trying to leave most impractical, particularly with all the unknown variables. A strange humanoid, capable of some form of particle teleportation, has ripped a hole in the fabric of space time and entered before her. Though fascinating, such a subject would need to be approached with extreme caution; and thus, she remains where she is, peaking out, edging slowly around to keep the table post between herself and the strange being.

Bruce hmms, getting up, sipping his coffee, heading over to investigate. This is DEFINITELY out of order. He starts to adopt a certain breathing style which builds the tension through his body, incase Mr. Green is needed

As Mike comes up closer, his pace slows until he comes to a stop away from the fleeing crowd and, looking to the guy in the golden robe. Lacking anyone to talk to with the others kind of FLYING away from him, he looks a bit at a loss to what he's seeing, "Who the fuck is this guy?" He murmurs to himself, starting to bring a hand to his face. He chuckles a little as he overhears the same question being repeated out loud.

The angular jaw of the visitor clenches as he regards each nearing face. "I am the last among the first. I am the Grandmaster." He replies, voice high and ragged. It is difficult to tell who he peers at with those smoldering eyes. It feels as if he peers at all who perceive him. Once said his mouth screws aside as a show of disgust and he turns to return towards the twinkling portal of stars from whence he came. "Deliberate amongst yourselves for one week and present to me a captain. I will speak only with him and he the only among you to speak with me. Your captain will select six champions to represent your planet and be prepared to present them to me upon my return. Then and only then will the game begin."

The Grandmaster takes pause in his step, swallowing hard when he casts a glance over his narrow shoulder. "Failure to represent is defeat. Oblivion is your consolation prize." The bistro ripples and creases as the Grandmaster steps through and the tear sutures itself back together.

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